Knights of Columbus Council #13861 Receives Top Award
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August 29, 2020Sanford, Maine - Knights of Columbus Council #13861 in Sanford was awarded the distinction of Star Council, the international organization's top honor for local councils.
The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic faith formation programs and volunteering time through service-oriented activities.
St. Thomas Grand Knight Terry Sylvanus
The St. Thomas Council achieved Star Council Status under the leadership of Grand Knight Terry Sylvanus. Terry assumed the Grand Knight position on July 1, 2019 and immediately hit the ground running.
The council’s many achievements include a church bell fundraiser in which the St. Thomas Council raised over $11,000. Church bells were ringing at Holy Family Church by the beginning of December 2019. Other achievements include an Annual Tootsie Roll Drive to benefit Waban Projects, Inc. in which $2,447 was raised. The Council puts on Turkey Dinners and Lenten Haddock Suppers to raise money for the Parish. Every December the St. Thomas sponsors a Christmas party for area needy children. Each child is treated to pizza, cake and receives a gift from Santa. Several knights and volunteers work together to make this event possible. Approximately 50 children, each accompanied by an adult, will attend. During April and May 2020, the St. Thomas Council instituted a No Neighbor Left Behind program where various Knights reached out to elderly persons and shut-ins who were left isolated as a result of the pandemic. Despite the pandemic. the St. Thomas Council has logged in over 1,300 service hours for St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and to the community of Sanford, Maine.
Although the St. Thomas Council has earned the distinction of Star Council under his watch, Grand Knight Terry Sylvanus always asserts: “This award is the council’s award - not mine. I’m just here to point the way.”
The Knights of Columbus is the World's leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77 million service hours and $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. The organization also provides financial services to groups and individuals, resulting in more than $112 billion of life insurance in force, and through its money management firm, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, it invests in accord with Catholic social teachings. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top rate and affordable insurance products to its members, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years.